Henley Bridge Project Update

Monday, February 04, 2013 | 11:27 am

Deterioration of piers delays bridge reopening until February 2014

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced today that the rebuilding of three piers on the Henley Bridge will likely delay its reopening to traffic until February 28, 2014. The entire project will be complete by June of 2014. The Henley Bridge rehabilitation project was initially scheduled to be complete on June 30, 2013.

When the intricate repair work began on the piers of the Henley Bridge, further deterioration was discovered not just in the concrete itself, but also to the steel inside the concrete. Unfortunately, this deterioration was not something that could be seen until it was exposed during the repair process.

“If we continued making the necessary repairs to the piers, we were looking at delays to the project that would have prevented us from reopening it to traffic until the summer of 2014,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “We feel confident that we have examined every option available to us to move the project forward safely and efficiently. The decision to rebuild the piers will ultimately save time, and will result in a longer life for the Henley Bridge.”

The Henley Bridge is more than 80 years old. When the rehabilitation project is complete, another 50 years is expected to be added to the life of the bridge. By expanding the travel lanes, the bridge design will result in traffic moving in and out of the downtown area more efficiently.

Travelers can get the latest information on the Henley Bridge project by accessing our website at www.tn.gov/henley, and by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HenleyBridge/. For travel and TDOT construction information, visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/ or download the new TDOT SmartWay mobile app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android. Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly. Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. TDOT advises drivers to “Know before you go!” by checking traffic conditions before leaving for your destination.